SRINAGAR : An amount of Rs 44.83 crore has been realised as revenue from the forest produce during 2012-13 in Jammu and Kashmir, where ban on extraction of medicinal plants since 2004 for their natural conservation and rejuvenation, has been lifted.
This information was given by Minister for Forests, Environment and Ecology Mian Altaf Ahmad in reply to a question by Jehangir Hussain Mir during the Question Hour in the Legislative Council.
The Minister said similarly, the department had realised Rs 42.23 crore and Rs. 46.78 crore as revenue from the sale of forest produce during 2010-11 and 2011-12 respectively.
Mian Altaf said a total 875.66 hectares of forest land has been diverted in Jammu and Kashmir for development works under PMGSY Scheme.
He said in order to mitigate the damage to the forests, some remedial measures have been taken by the forest department, including afforestation on the degraded forests land by doubling the area on suitable locations, erecting fencing to protect such plants, adoption of other soil conservation measures and aided natural regeneration.
The Minister said no income is being generated by the sale of medicinal plants at present, as the extraction of medicinal plants was banned in 2004 for their natural conservation and rejuvenation.
He said the ban stands lifted now and the department is formulating methodology for sustainable extraction of medicinal plants as per scientific procedure. (AGENCIES)
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